I am Gretchen Erickson's son Mark, and I wanted to let everyone know who loved and appreciated my mother as much as I did that she is no longer with us. One comfort that I do have is the realization that she is no longer in any pain and is with God now. I still hear her resounding infectious laugh ringing in my ears as a constant reminder that she is having a wonderful time in Heaven. As I write this and I look at how many people she had in her contact list it show me that even with her limited physical abilities that she still made such a positive impact on the lives of so many different people throughout the vast expanse of our planet.

I wish I would have had the opportunity to communicate with all of my Mother's friends under circumstances that didn't bring such disparaging news.

At the same time,this turn of events might provide for a chance to hear from those people my Mother provided spiritual guidance, emotional support and general companionship to if the desire exists within those who knew her. From my personal standpoint, I would be greatly honored to hear any stories of how my Mother has inspired or helped anyone of you throughout the journey of your life.

As most of you who knew my Mother were aware, she has been struggling with emotional and physical problems for a very long time. She was feeling very weak and very sick over the last few days. Mike went to check on her the night before last, her body was rejecting the food she had tried to eat but she still appeared stable.

The next morning he went to check on her again and she wasn't in her bed. He then realized how quiet the house was and found her in the bathroom sitting on the floor. He tried CPR but to no avail, to much time had passed as she expired some time that night.

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My Mother has a very strong spirit that will carry on with those people she had the chance to cross a proverbial path with. I have never met another person that despite their circumstances never focused on how bad things were, but instead always looked for what was yet to come.

I love my Mother more than I can describe in words. She is the greatest woman I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. I owe my livelihood, my table manners, my fervor and passion for knowledge, my love for God, and my wit, among many other attributes that would overload the internet if I were to list them all, to her and her alone.

She will live in my memory and my heart until I am once again rejoined with her in Heaven.

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